The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-04-15
RETALIATION.
The PRECEDENT Addresses a Letter to the
Massachusetts Fishermen on the Subject
of RetaHatfon-New England Excited.

The PRECEDENT Addresses a Letter to the
Massachusetts Fishermen on the Subject
of RetaLation-New England Excited.
WAsHISGToN, April 9.-The President,
having received a communication from the
American Fisheries Union of Massachu-
setts, calIin9.attention to the fisheries dis
pute and suggesting that the Retaliatory
act, passed by the last Congress would, in
their opinion, be sufficiently executed if the
proposed retaliation was confined to the
closing of United States markets to Cana
dian fish products, has made the following
answer:
george Steele, Esq President American Fisheries
JIlioR and Others Gloucester, Mass:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April z.
Gentlemen: Ihaye received your letter lately
addressed tC me, and have given full cOnsidera-
tiou to the expression of the views and wishes
therein contained in relation to the existing
differences between the Governments of Great
Britain and the United States, growing out of
the refusal to award to our citizens engaged in
fishing enterprises the privileges to which they
are entitled either under treaty stipulations
or the guarantees of international comfy
and neighborly concessions. sincerely
trust the apprehension you express of unjust
and unfriendly treatment of American fisher
l-men lawfully found in Canadian waters will not
be realized But If such apprehension should
prove to be wen founded, earnestly hope that
no fault or inconsiderate action Of any of our
citizens viii in the least weaken the just posi-
tion of our Government or deprive US of the
universal sympathy and support to which we
should be entitled.
The action of this administration since June,
1885, when the fishery articles of the treaty Of
1871 were terminated under the notification
which had two years before been given by our
Government, has been fully disclosed by the
correspondence between the representatives
and the appropriate departments OF the re-
| spective Governments, with which, am
appriSed by your letter, you are entirely fam1l-
lar. An examination of this correspondence
has doubtless satisfied you that in no case
have the rights or privileges of American
| fishermen been overlooked or neglected. but
| that. on the contrary, they have been
| sedulously insisted upon and cared for by
! every means within the control of the
! executive branch of the Government. The act
! of Congress approved March g. 1885, authorizing
a course of retaliation through executive action,
| in the event of a continuance the part of the
! Brtish-American authorities of unfriendlY con-
1 duct and treaty violations affecting American
| fishermen, has deVolVCd upon the President OF
| the United States exceedingly grave and solemn
| responsibilities, comprehending highly impor-
/ tant consequences to our national character and
! dignity, and involving extremely valuable com
/ mercial intercourse between the British pos
! sessions of North America and the people OF the
| United States.
| I understand the main purpose of your letter
is to suggest that in case recourse to the retala-
! tory measures authorized by this act should be
1 invited by unjust treatment of our fishermen in
/
| be fully accomplished by prohibiting Canadian
! caught fish from entry into the ports of the
United States" The existing controversy is
one in which two nations are the parties con-
| cerned. The retaliation contemplated by the
act Of Congress is to be enforced, not to protect
| solely any particular interest, however meri-
| torious or valuable, but to maintain the na-
tional honor, and thus protect all our people. In
this view the violation of American fishery
rights and unjust and unfriendly acts toward
! q portion of citizens engaged in this bust
ness is but the occasion for action, and cOnsti-
! tutes national affrOnt which gives birth to or
| may justify retaliation. This measure once re
sorted to, its effectiveness and value may well
| depend upon the thorouRhness and extent of its
! application; and in the performance Of inter
national daties, the enforcement of interna-
tional rigEFts and the protection of our citizens
this Government and the people of the United
States must act unit-all intent upon at
| tanning the best result of retaliation upon the
basis of a maintenance Of national honor and
duty.
A nation seeking by any means to maintain
its honor, dignity and integrity is engaged IN
protecting the rights Of its people; and If in
such efforts particular interests are injured and
special advantages forfeited. these things should
| be patriotically borne for the public good. An
| immense volume of population, manufacturers
| and agricultural productions, and the marine
tonnage and railways to which these have given
activity, all largely the result of intercourse be-
tween the United States and British America,
| and the natural growth of full half century OF
good neighbOrhOOd and friendly communication,
form an aggregate Of material wealth and
/ incidental relations of most impressive
magnitude. I fully appreciate these things,
and am not unmindful of the great
number of people who are
| concerned in such vast and diversified interests.
In the performance of the serious duty which
the Congress has imposed upon me, and in the
exercise upon just occasion of the power con
ferred under the act referred to, 1 shall deem
myself bound to inf1ict unnecessary damage
or injury upon any portion OF our people, but
shall, nevertheless, be unfiinchingly guided by
| a sense of what the self-respect and dignity of
the Nation demands. In the maintenance of
these, and in the support of the honor of the
Government beneath which every citizen may
repOse in safety, no sacrifice Of personal or pri-
| vate interests shall be considered as against the
general welfare. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
NEW ENGLAND EXCITED.
| GLOUCESTER, Mass, April 9.-The firing
upon an American schooner by the cruiser
Vigilant has aroused Gloucester and there
is a renewed demand for non-inter-
course. President Steele, of the Amer
ican Fishery Union, said he hoped yes
sells would be seized if caught within
the three-mile limit. ''What we want
said he, ''is non-intercourse. Let our
vessels stay away from Canadian shores
altogether. We don't want their bait. We
have vessel fitting away here to-day that
will take traps to Bar HarbOr and that
locality and catch their own bait That is
what we want all the fishermen to do
patronize home industries and encourage
them" The universal sentiment is non
intercourse and departing shippers are
| warmed IN lypar a1xrayv from Canada